St. Petersburg Baby Home No. 13

St. Petersburg Baby Home No. 13

Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times

Natalia Nikiforova, chief doctor at the orphanage, looks at a photo of former patients Veronika, who has Down syndrome, and Alexander, who has a heart disease. The photo shows them meeting in the United States after having been adopted by American families.

Natalia Nikiforova, chief doctor at the orphanage, looks at a photo of former patients Veronika, who has Down syndrome, and Alexander, who has a heart disease. The photo shows them meeting in the United States after having been adopted by American families. (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

Natalia Nikiforova, chief doctor at the orphanage, looks at a photo of former patients Veronika, who has Down syndrome, and Alexander, who has a heart disease. The photo shows them meeting in the United States after having been adopted by American families.